University of Macau / Faculty of Health Sciences

Researchers have indicated that Internet addiction is a wide-spread problem, impacting the lives of an estimated 4-10% of all Internet users. Researchers have also indicated that Internet addiction has a social component, with Internet addicts using the Internet to build and maintain new social relationships at a much higher rate than non-addicts. This study explored Internet addiction in the context of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). Data were drawn from MMORPG players and from mental health counselors to determine incidence rates of Internet addiction among MMORPG players, social needs that were predictive of Internet addiction, rates of treatment seeking behaviors by MMORPG players for Internet addiction, and how Internet addiction is diagnosed and treated by mental health counselors. For this study, the MMORPG Player Survey and the Counselor Survey were used to collect data from MMORPG players and mental health counselors. The MMORPG Player Survey was administered to 513 MMORPG players. The Counselor Survey was administered to 80 mental health counselors. Results from the MMORPG Player Survey indicated that approximately 15% (n=78) of MMORPG players met criteria for Internet addiction, as defined by the Diagnostic Questionnaire (DQ). A stepwise regression analysis of loneliness, confidence, liberation, validation, and support found that loneliness and confidence were both predictive of Internet addiction among participants (F2,473=115.921, p< .001) with an adjusted R square of .326. Of MMORPG players surveyed, .6% (n=3) indicated that they have sought professional help for Internet addiction. Mental health counselors reported that Internet addiction was most likely to be diagnosed as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or impulse control disorder. Furthermore, mental health counselors reported that they were most likely to treat Internet addiction using one of the following theoretical orientations: cognitive, reality, family systems, or solution focused. These findings highlight a subpopulation of the online community who are in need of mental health services and are not receiving them. Recommendations for future research include qualitative studies of the social aspects of MMORPG gaming among Internet addicts, as well as research exploring potential deterrents to mental health services among this population.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Background: Despite its exclusion in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has received attention especially from the psychiatric community. Associated with multiple factors, IAD among adolescents may cause physical, emotional, social, and function impairments that extend to adulthood. Objective: This systematic review explores the prevalence of IAD among adolescents and identifies associated factors. Methods: The databases of Medline and PubMed were searched for related literature through the Boolean Advanced Search using the keywords “Internet” or “cyber,” “addiction” or “dependence,” and “adolescent” or “youth” from 2003 to 2013. A total of 232 articles were retrieved and screened. Only 11 cross-sectional studies from 5 countries were included in this systematic review. The age of adolescent participants in these studies ranged from 13.8 to 17.3 years. Four assessments were employed to explore IAD among adolescents in the 11 reviewed studies. Among these studies, 4 employed the Young’s Internet Addiction (IA) Test, 4 utilized the Chen IA Scale, 2 studies used the Internet-Related Addiction Scale, and one study adhered to the Young’s DRM 52 Scale of Internet use among adolescents. Results: The prevalence of IAD among adolescents range from 1.5% to 18.8%. In this review, factors associated with high prevalence of IAD among adolescents include psychological (e.g., depression, attention deficiency, and hyperactivity disorder), social (e.g., family conflict),and demographic factors (e.g., male gender and older age), as well as use of the Internet (e.g., longer use of the Internet, online chatting, and gaming). Conclusions: With the increasing use of the Internet in managing daily activities, including learning, communication, and entertainment, it has become an essential part of human living in the modern world. The negative effects of IAD among adolescents might result in high healthcare cost, particularly in psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation. Thus, prevention of IAD at the early stage and promotion of healthy use of the Internet are important in safeguarding the mental wellness of people. The result of this review showed the prevalence of IAD among adolescents is associated with psychological, socio-demographic, environmental and living factors. Primary preventive education that focuses on the healthy use of the Internet and guidance could be promoted among adolescents and parents at the school and community levels, respectively. Moreover, secondary prevention programs that concentrate on the early prevention and identification of IAD and specifically designed for the at-risk group could be launched. Extra resources for the employment of counseling personnel should be considered. Future research on the at-risk group population of IAD among adolescents could be conducted. These initiatives could assist in designing a tailor-made intervention, and eventually in preventing the early onset of IAD. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Thesis (M.A.)--Rowan University, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Rao, Yichen. / Thesis M.Phil. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-184). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 26, October, 2016).

The Internet has been changed not only business modeling design in the enterprises but also the lives of average citizens as much as did the telephone in the early part of the 20th century. There are some users applied the Internet for the task such as data collection, information searching and social network building. One specific application is making friends in the Internet. However, few wallow in acquaintanceship while they are surfing in the virtual world, that effects their normal social life dramatically. Researchers and social critics are debating whether the Internet is improving or harming participation in community life and social relationships. After reviewing the previous literatures, we adopt TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior) and Interpersonal Theory to explore the reasons of making friends in the Internet. This study results suggest that, first, some users extend their social network in the physical world to the Internet. Second, virtual relationship substitutes for the physical relationship. Finally, others¡¦ anxiety is increased while they were not able to satisfy the virtual acquaintanceship.

Studies have shown that, in the USA, 6 % of all surfers are at risk for developing an addiction that is damaging for the individual and the enviroment, 30 % use the internet to get away from anxiety and other negative feelings. The present study, which involved 847 adolescents in the community of Piteå, at junior and high school level, showed that 10% of the adolescent were in danger of developing Internet addiction, and 3% were problably already addicted. Teenagers are gereally at greater risk for this king of behaviour. The study showed that boys in the 9th grade were ecpecially vulnerable; they reported spending significantly mote time at the computer and the gave high ratings ont the 'risk questions' that other participants in the study. Interviews with five frequent Internet users showed a wide field of applications and different kind of internet addiction. Three of the five interviewees reported that they consider themselves to be addicted to the Internet, one of them also experienced severe anxiety, in part as a result from the internet use. In Sweden, little research has been carried out in this area., therefore this study is important. If something is to be classified as a "national illness" at least 1% must suffer from i. The results show that 3% of high school adolescents in this study may have reached that level.

Jiang, Qiaolei. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 293-328). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Faculty of Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies